Administrator, solicitor, council member resign

Saturday

Apr 25, 2009 at 12:01 AMApr 26, 2009 at 2:04 AM

More resignations rocked the April 21 meeting of Alexandria Village Council. Just two months after the resignation of Carol Jasper as mayor, village solicitor Russ Adams, village administrator Chrissy Willeke and council member Tim Humes have also resigned their positions.

More resignations rocked the April 21 meeting of Alexandria Village Council. Just two months after the resignation of Carol Jasper as mayor, village solicitor Russ Adams, village administrator Chrissy Willeke and council member Tim Humes have also resigned their positions.

Council heard Humes' letter at the start of the regular business meeting. Adams' and Willeke's resignations were tendered April 9 and 13, respectively.

Adams, who served for "decades" in his capacity as solicitor, cited medical reasons and recent increased demands on his time on the part of the village as reasons for what he called his retirement in his letter of resignation.

"We're very grateful for his many years of service," Karen Holt, council president pro-tem, said of Adams after the meeting,

In Willeke's letter of resignation from her position as administrator, she cited the uncertain financial situation of the village as an impetus for her to seek other employment for her "family's best interest."

"I have enjoyed working as the village administrator for Alexandria over the past three years and will miss working so closely with the public," Willeke wrote.

Humes wrote: "It is with great regret that I am resigning as member of the Alexandria Village Council, effective immediately. For the most part, it has been a genuine pleasure serving on council. Recently, there has been much activity that I refuse to be associated with, resulting in my decision to resign."

Other members said Humes had served on council since 2002.

"I've enjoyed working with each of those people through the years, and I think they've all worked very hard for the village of Alexandria," said council member Naomi Compton.

Meanwhile, council is in the process of filling those vacant positions. Alexandria residents interested in an appointment by council to Humes' seat should drop a letter of interest by the village offices or call Mayor Harold Lee before council's next meeting on Tuesday, May 5.

There was some discussion during Tuesday's meeting about the nature of the administrator position. Compton explained the village must have either an administrator or a three-member Board of Public Affairs (BPA) to oversee public utilities.

Holt maintained the general fund will no longer be able to support an administrator's salary. Compton argued they "can't even find six people for council," let alone another board, and the village would still have to employ a water clerk to collect payment.

Willeke also held and continues to hold the water clerk position for the village.

Most council members in attendance (Mike Carter was absent from the meeting) said they felt the two positions -- administrator and water clerk -- should be officially rolled into one position under a new job description to save money. Lee tabled the discussion until he can consult an attorney about it.

Bill Lisk, owner of the Marathon gas station, and his legal representative, Tom Vivyan, petitioned council and the mayor to resolve what they described as a lingering issue of police vehicles "blocking the pumps" at his business when they pull over vehicles for speeding violations. Lisk cited several incidents of what he considers "harassment" involving himself and officers.

"We want to go forward, not backward," Vivyan told village officials.

Lee and Holt both said officers have been advised about not blocking the pumps. Lee said he would look into the matter more.

Two women, Joanie Hammond and Violet Johnson, read aloud and submitted letters documenting incidents involving police, as well. Hammond described in detail several interactions with village officers over the previous weekend which culminated in a stop also involving Johnson. Both claimed to suffer harassment and embarrassment during those interactions.

Regina Hunt was hired for the Clerk of Courts position at a rate of $300 per month. She currently holds the same position for the Village of Johnstown.

An informational meeting about the village's proposed 4-mill operating levy replacement is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. The location of that meeting was not known at press time but will be posted, Holt said.

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